GB2427449A - A sealing clamp made of two halves for a pipe - Google Patents

A sealing clamp made of two halves for a pipe Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2427449A
GB2427449A GB0604947A GB0604947A GB2427449A GB 2427449 A GB2427449 A GB 2427449A GB 0604947 A GB0604947 A GB 0604947A GB 0604947 A GB0604947 A GB 0604947A GB 2427449 A GB2427449 A GB 2427449A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
clamp
infill
sealing
seal
pipe
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0604947A
Other versions
GB0604947D0 (en
Inventor
Dominic Dean
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Furmanite International Ltd
Original Assignee
Furmanite International Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Furmanite International Ltd filed Critical Furmanite International Ltd
Publication of GB0604947D0 publication Critical patent/GB0604947D0/en
Publication of GB2427449A publication Critical patent/GB2427449A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L55/00—Devices or appurtenances for use in, or in connection with, pipes or pipe systems
    • F16L55/16—Devices for covering leaks in pipes or hoses, e.g. hose-menders
    • F16L55/168—Devices for covering leaks in pipes or hoses, e.g. hose-menders from outside the pipe
    • F16L55/17—Devices for covering leaks in pipes or hoses, e.g. hose-menders from outside the pipe by means of rings, bands or sleeves pressed against the outside surface of the pipe or hose
    • F16L55/172—Devices for covering leaks in pipes or hoses, e.g. hose-menders from outside the pipe by means of rings, bands or sleeves pressed against the outside surface of the pipe or hose the ring, band or sleeve being tightened by a tangentially arranged threaded pin and a nut
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L21/00—Joints with sleeve or socket
    • F16L21/06—Joints with sleeve or socket with a divided sleeve or ring clamping around the pipe-ends
    • F16L21/065—Joints with sleeve or socket with a divided sleeve or ring clamping around the pipe-ends tightened by tangentially-arranged threaded pins
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L1/00—Laying or reclaiming pipes; Repairing or joining pipes on or under water
    • F16L1/26—Repairing or joining pipes on or under water
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L55/00—Devices or appurtenances for use in, or in connection with, pipes or pipe systems
    • F16L55/16—Devices for covering leaks in pipes or hoses, e.g. hose-menders
    • F16L55/168—Devices for covering leaks in pipes or hoses, e.g. hose-menders from outside the pipe
    • F16L55/175—Devices for covering leaks in pipes or hoses, e.g. hose-menders from outside the pipe by using materials which fill a space around the pipe before hardening

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Pipe Accessories (AREA)

Abstract

A sealing clamp 12 for a pipe comprises, prior to deployment, two generally semi-circular clamp parts 14, 16 and means for drawing the clamp parts together along their edges about the pipe, each clamp half having a groove 26 near each end containing a deformable seal 34 and an infill 36 between the grooves. The infill may be an elastomeric material, gels, closed cell foams, pastes or heavy grease and is preferably non-corrosive. A one-way valve may serve as a vent for excess infill to be exhausted. Anti-extrusion plates 32 can be provided to protect the deformable seals. The clamps halves may be pulled together using studs / bolts and nuts.

Description

DESCRIPTION Title: Sealing of Pipelines This invention concerns sealing of pipelines. A ruptured pipeline may be repaired using a sealing clamp that is fitted around the pipe. The clamp has two semi-circular parts that are tightened together. Each clamp has a pair of space grooves, each containing an annular deformable seal, so that in the assembled clamp, the grooves at each end of the clamp become a continuous groove. The seals are positioned towards opposite ends of the clamp, so that when the clamp halves are tightened together, they are deformed to seal the clamp to the pipeline either side of the rupture. Between the seals, the sealing clamp has an annular space that may be injected with a settable compound, such as a two-part durable resin, to displace line contents from the space. Line contents may be corrosive and, if left within the clamp space, may lead to long-term damage to the clamp. The clamp is provided with an inlet to the space and an outlet from the space, so that the settable compound can be injected and displace the contents of the space through the outlet before both the inlet and outlet are sealed off. On land sealing a pipeline using this clamp and method is relatively easy to carry out but underwater pipelines will incur substantial cost as well as incur longer downtime, whilst the settable compound is allowed to cure sufficiently to withstand normal line pressures. An object of this invention is to provide means for sealing a pipeline rupture that may be suitable for underwater use. A sealing clamp for a pipe comprising, prior to deployment, two generally semicircular clamp parts and means for drawing the clamp parts together along their edges about the pipe, each clamp half having a groove near each end containing a deformable seal and an infill between the grooves. The means for pulling the clamp parts together may comprise studs through overlapping mating clamp parts and nuts on the studs. Usually, the clamp halves will form a circular clamp having a smaller inner diameter in outer regions thereof and a larger inner diameter between the seal grooves than that of the outer regions. The larger diameter region is to allow for possible variations in pipeline diameter. Suitable materials for the infill include non-corrosive materials that are able to flow to a limited extent or deformed. The infill material may be selected from elastomeric materials, gel, closed cell foams, pastes and heavy grease. The volume of the infill may be important. The infill preferably is of a volume sufficient to occupy the space concerned without creating a hydraulic lock that would prevent the clamp parts being pulled together. Also, the precise dimensions of the pipe to be sealed may well be difficult to calculate, not only because of normal production tolerances but also because of surface variations caused by weld caps or external damage. It may, therefore, be that the infill is preferably more of a liquid or paste than a gel. When the infill is of a more flowable nature, it may be possible to provide the sealing clamp with a vent so that excess infill can be exhausted. The vent is preferably provided with a one-way value. The area covered by the infill may be important also. The infill is preferably sized so as not to reach the annular seal grooves at its edges, in order to allow space for the annular seals to be deformed inwardly on the sealing clamp ends. The sealing clamp of the invention may further be provided with anti-seal extrusion plates at opposed ends thereof. The anti-seal extrusion plates have a first relatively rigid part and an, in use, inner outwardly deformable part that is arranged to partially overlie the deformable seal. Thus, when the clamp parts are pulled together, the deformable part of the anti-seal extrusion plate is deformed outwardly over part of the seal to prevent line pressure forcing the seal outwardly from the sealing clamp. This invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a pipe sealing clamp in section loosely attached to a pipe; Figure 1 A is an enlarged view of part of Figure 1 Figure 2 is a side view of the pipe sealing clamp attached to the pipe; Figure 3 is an end view of the pipe with the sealing clamp loosely attached; Figure 4 shows the pipe sealing clamp in section tightened onto the pipe; Figure 4A is an enlarged view of part of Figure 4; Figure 5 is a side view of the pipe sealing clamp tightened onto the pipe; Figure 6 is an end view of the pipe with the sealing clamp tightened onto the pipe Referring to the accompanying drawings, a pipe 10 requiring sealing has a sealing clamp 12 fitted thereto.The sealing clamp 12 comprises two semi-circular parts 14, 16 that are joined together around the pipe by screw-threaded studs 18 through mating faces 20 of each clamp half. Nuts 22 on each on a stud 18 are used to draw the clamp halves together. The clamp parts together provide minor outer annular regions 24, an annular groove 26 adjacent each of the outer regions and a central major annular region 28 between the grooves. The inner diameter of the grooves 26 is greatest and the inner diameter of the region 28 is greater than that of the outer regions 24. The outer regions 24 are each provided with an anti-seal extrusion plate 32. The grooves 26 each receive an annular deformable elastomeric seal 34. Between the grooves 26 in the central region 28 there is provided a gel infill 36. The gel infill is slightly narrower than the width of the region to leave space 40 for the seal 34 to expand into. The gel infill is typically moulded from a soft elastomeric material, although other suitable materials may be used for the infill. As shown in figures 4 to 6, when the sealing clamp parts are drawn together about a pipe to be sealed, the elastomeric seal is deformed inwardly due to the combination of the anti-seal extrusion plates, which also serve to prevent the seal being forced outwardly on the clamp by line pressure. The gel infill occupies space that would ordinarily be filled by pipe line contents or sea water, so that when the clamp halves are pulled together, pipe-line contents or seawater are expelled in the most part. Thus, when the sealing clamp is fully tightened down, very little, if any line content or seawater remains within the clamp that could cause corrosion in the long term.

Claims (22)

Claims:
1. A sealing clamp for a pipe comprising, prior to deployment, two generally semicircular clamp parts and means for drawing the clamp parts together along their edges about the pipe, each clamp half having a groove near each end containing a deformable seal and an infill between the grooves.
2. A sealing clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for pulling the clamp parts together comprises studs through overlapping mating clamp parts and nuts on the studs.
3. A sealing clamp as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the clamp parts form a circular clamp having a smaller inner diameter in outer regions thereof and a larger inner diameter between the seal grooves than that of the outer regions.
4. A sealing clamp as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the infill is selected from non-corrosive materials that are able to flow to a limited extent or be deformed.
5. A sealing clamp as claimed in claim 4, wherein the infill material is selected from elastomeric materials, gels, closed cell foams, pastes and heavy greases.
6. A sealing clamp as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the infill is of a volume sufficient to occupy the space between the seals without creating a hydraulic lock that would prevent the clamp halves being pulled together.
7. A sealing clamp as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 having a vent so that excess infill can be exhausted.
8. A sealing clamp as claimed in claim 7, wherein the vent has a one-way valve.
9. A sealing clamp as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the infill is sized so as not to reach the annular seal grooves at its edges.
10. A sealing clamp as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 having anti-seal extrusion plates at opposed ends thereof.
11. A sealing clamp as claimed in claim 10, wherein the anti-seal extrusion plates have a first relatively rigid part and an, in use, inner outwardly deformable part that is arranged to partially overlie the deformable seal.
12. A method for sealing a leak in a pipeline comprising applying to the pipeline about the leak a sealing clamp comprising two generally semi-circular clamp parts with means for pulling the clamp parts together along their edges about the pipe, each part having a groove near each end containing a deformable seal that seals between the clamp and the pipe when the clamp parts are pulled together, the method further comprising providing, prior to deployment of the sealing clamp, between the deformable seals an infill to occupy any space between the clamp and the pipe when the clamp parts are pulled together.
13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the means for pulling the clamp parts together comprises studs through overlapping mating clamp parts and nuts on the studs.
14. A method as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein the clamp parts form a circular clamp having a smaller inner diameter in outer regions thereof and a larger inner diameter between the seal grooves than that of the outer regions.
15. A method as claimed in claim 12, 13 or 14, wherein the infill is selected from non-corrosive materials that are able to flow to a limited extent or deformed.
16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the infill material is selected from elastomeric materials, gels, closed cell foams, pastes and heavy greases.
17. A method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein the infill is of a volume sufficient to occupy the space between the seals without creating a hydraulic lock that would prevent the clamp halves being pulled together.
18. A method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 17, wherein the clamp has a vent so that excess infill can be exhausted.
19. A method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 18, wherein the infill is sized so as not to reach the annular seal grooves at its edges.
20. A method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 19, wherein the clamp is provided with anti-seal extension plates at opposed ends thereof.
21. A method of sealing a damaged pipeline substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
21. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the anti-seal extension plates have a first relatively rigid part and an, in use, inner outwardly deformable part that is arranged to partially overlie the deformable seal.
22. A sealing clamp substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
23. A method of sealing a damaged pipeline substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims:
1. A sealing clamp for a pipe line, comprising two generally semi-circular clamp parts and means for drawing the clamp part together along their edges about the pipe, each clamp part having a groove near each end separated by an annular space, each groove containing a deformable seal and the annular space containing an infill selected from non-corrosive materials able to flow to a limited extent or be deformed, wherein the infill is in situ before the clamp is applied to the pipeline. 2. A sealing clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for pulling the clamp parts together comprises studs through overlapping mating clamp parts and nuts on the studs.
3. A sealing clamp as claimed in claim I or 2, wherein the clamp parts form a circular clamp having a smaller inner diameter in outer regions thereof and a larger inner diameter between the seal grooves than that of the outer regions.
4. A sealing clamp as claimed in claim 3, wherein the infill material is selected from elastomeric materials, gels, closed cell foams, pastes and heavy greases.
5. A sealing clamp as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the infill is of a volume sufficient to occupy the space between the seals without creating a hydraulic lock that would prevent the clamp halves being pulled together. 6. A sealing clamp as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 having a vent so that excess infill can be exhausted.
7. A sealing clamp as claimed in claim 6, wherein the vent has a one-way valve.
8. A sealing clamp as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the infill is sized so as not to reach the annular seal grooves at its edges.
9. A sealing clamp as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 having anti-seal extrusion plates at opposed ends thereof.
10. A sealing clamp as claimed in claim 9, wherein the anti-seal extrusion plates have a first relatively rigid part and an, in use, inner outwardly deformable part that is arranged to partially overlie the deformable seal. 11. A method for sealing a leak in a pipeline comprising applying to the pipeline about the leak a sealing clamp comprising two generally semi-circular clamp parts with means for pulling the clamp parts together along their edges about the pipe, each clamp half having a groove near each end separated by an annular space, each groove containing a deformable seal that seals between the clamp and the pipe when the clamp parts are pulled together and the annular space containing an infill selected from noncorrosive materials that flow to a limited extent or deform when the clamp parts are pulled together, wherein the infill is in situ before the clamp is applied to the pipeline.
12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the means for pulling the clamp parts together comprises studs through overlapping mating clamp parts and nuts on the studs. 13. A method as claimed in claim 11 or 12, wherein the clamp parts form a circular clamp having a smaller inner diameter in outer regions thereof and a larger inner diameter between the seal grooves than that of the outer regions.
14. A method as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the infill material is selected from elastomeric materials, gels, closed cell foams, pastes and heavy greases.
15. A method as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the infill is of a volume sufficient to occupy the space between the seals without creating a hydraulic lock that would prevent the clamp halves being pulled together.
16. A method as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein the clamp has a vent so that excess infill can be exhausted. 17. A method as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 16, wherein the infill is sized so as not to reach the annular seal grooves at its edges.
18. A method as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 17, wherein the clamp is provided with anti-seal extension plates at opposed ends thereof.
19. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the anti-seal extension plates have a first relatively rigid part and an, in use, inner outwardly deformable part that is arranged to partially overlie the deformable seal.
20. A sealing clamp substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
GB0604947A 2005-03-18 2006-03-13 A sealing clamp made of two halves for a pipe Withdrawn GB2427449A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB0505575.1A GB0505575D0 (en) 2005-03-18 2005-03-18 Sealing of pipelines

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0604947D0 GB0604947D0 (en) 2006-04-19
GB2427449A true GB2427449A (en) 2006-12-27

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GBGB0505575.1A Ceased GB0505575D0 (en) 2005-03-18 2005-03-18 Sealing of pipelines
GB0604947A Withdrawn GB2427449A (en) 2005-03-18 2006-03-13 A sealing clamp made of two halves for a pipe

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GBGB0505575.1A Ceased GB0505575D0 (en) 2005-03-18 2005-03-18 Sealing of pipelines

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101846228A (en) * 2010-06-29 2010-09-29 郑云飞 Fluid pipeline leakage stopping device and method
EP2902685A1 (en) * 2014-01-30 2015-08-05 Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras Method for repairing flexible flow lines with a two-piece clamping collar and composite material
CN113566049A (en) * 2021-07-15 2021-10-29 上海瑞契工程技术有限公司 Resealing device

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1483141A (en) * 1974-03-13 1977-08-17 Pipe Line Development Co Coupling for repairing hot tapping or joining pipelines and a method of isolating and pressure-testing a portion of a pipeline
US4790058A (en) * 1986-03-14 1988-12-13 International Clamp Company Clamp
EP0561467A1 (en) * 1992-03-18 1993-09-22 SNAM S.p.A. Method for repairing local damage to pipelines by applying cladding with an interposed protective sheath
US6161878A (en) * 1997-09-01 2000-12-19 Waterworks Technology Development Organization Co., Ltd. External cover pipe for fluid transport pipe
WO2006016239A1 (en) * 2004-08-03 2006-02-16 John Peter Wright A pipe coupling and method of connecting pipes

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1483141A (en) * 1974-03-13 1977-08-17 Pipe Line Development Co Coupling for repairing hot tapping or joining pipelines and a method of isolating and pressure-testing a portion of a pipeline
US4790058A (en) * 1986-03-14 1988-12-13 International Clamp Company Clamp
EP0561467A1 (en) * 1992-03-18 1993-09-22 SNAM S.p.A. Method for repairing local damage to pipelines by applying cladding with an interposed protective sheath
US6161878A (en) * 1997-09-01 2000-12-19 Waterworks Technology Development Organization Co., Ltd. External cover pipe for fluid transport pipe
WO2006016239A1 (en) * 2004-08-03 2006-02-16 John Peter Wright A pipe coupling and method of connecting pipes

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101846228A (en) * 2010-06-29 2010-09-29 郑云飞 Fluid pipeline leakage stopping device and method
CN101846228B (en) * 2010-06-29 2013-05-01 郑云飞 Fluid pipeline leakage stopping device and method
EP2902685A1 (en) * 2014-01-30 2015-08-05 Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras Method for repairing flexible flow lines with a two-piece clamping collar and composite material
CN113566049A (en) * 2021-07-15 2021-10-29 上海瑞契工程技术有限公司 Resealing device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0604947D0 (en) 2006-04-19
GB0505575D0 (en) 2005-04-27

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